Sink stoppers



Oct. 31, 1961 R. W. HYDE SINK STOPPERS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 :zzlm A %EN TOR. I .f Bymdawz Unite tate This invention is concerned with sink Stoppers of the type intended for use in household sinks having garbage disposal units associated with them. Further, itis directed to a removable stopper which may be progressively inserted into the drain opening so as to permit either moderate ilow through the drain or to close od flow entirely.

In la typical installation a garbage disposal unit is mounted under a sink such that the sink drain opens directly downward into the comminuting chamber of the unit. The strainer basket usually employed in a sink drain to prevent food particles from going down the drain is not used, but rather in its place is a stopper speciiically designed to seat within a cooperating drain sleeve. This special stopper must be arranged so that it can be adjusted to completely close the drain, so as to hold a stand of Water in the sink, or be removed entirely when garbage is being introduced into the disposal unit, or be seated in a semi-open position in which the drain opening is partially but not completely closed to the -flow of water. In the latter, or semi-open, position a ilow of Water, required to etectuate the comminuting action of the disposal unit, can enter the drain. At the same time, however, the stopper in this position blocks the drain opening to the extent that bits of garbage being ground in the disposal unit cannot ily back up through the drain opening. Werethis opening not so blocked during the operation of the disposal unit there would exist a certain danger that, for example, bone splinters might forcibly be ejected upwardly through it.

The stopper of this invention cooperates with a drain sleeve which is mounted permanently in the sink at the mouth of the drain. The stopper itself is of a shape permitting it to be seated within this drain sleeve. The stopper is adjustable when seated in the sleeve from one position in which it seats snugly and is held positively in the sleeve for completely closing the sink opening, providing as an incident thereof a better seal than has heretofore been obtained, to an intermediate position in which it is slightly raised with respect to the sleeve, in which position it permits a flow of water to enter the drain during grinding. Or, of course, it may be unseated and entirely removed from the drain.

An 'important distinction between the seal obtained with the sink stopper of this invention and those obtained with other Stoppers resides in the locking engagement obtaining with the former, whereby it may be -unseated only by a iirm pull directed vertically. Because of this, the seal cannot be broken accidentally, releasing all of the water in the sink, when a sidewise force should happen to act on the stopper. A second feature is the manner in which the stopper knob, by which it is grasped in order to remove it from the drain, is situated in a central recess so as not to disturb the otherwise substantially smooth and unbroken bottom surface of the sink. Aside from these features, it performs the functions required of any stopper. p

In a preferred embodiment, the stopper element is formed of a resilient plastic or rubber material, such as neoprene or polyethylene, which comprises the ilexible, or sealing, portions of the stopper, and` a metal core holding and arent imparting a desirable central rigidity to the flexible portions of the stopper and presenting a knob or handle by which the stopper may be grasped. While in the past many Stoppers have been made entirely of metal, the use of a resilient plastic material for the outer portions of the stopper has the advantage that la porcelain sink will not be chipped or damaged if the stopper is accidentally dropped, as was so often the case with an all-metal stopper. The resilient portions of the stopper so encircle the central metal core as to make improbable any forcible contact between the metal portion and the porcelain surfaces of the sink. Furthermore, a better seal is obtained by employing ilexible seal surfaces, which are held under the pressure of a stand of Water above them, than was possible with metal Stoppers. By vfabricating these plastic parts from one of the more recently developed plastics, sealing surfaces may be obtained which are long-lived and resistant to the deleterious eliects'of detergents present in their environment and which will not oxidize or crack even after long use.

The stopper is further specitied in relation to the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a vertical cross-sectional view through a drain in which a stopper conforming to this invention is seated `and illustrates the uppermost portion only of a disposal unit situated beneath the drain opening.

`FIGURE 2 is a top plan of the stopper.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan of the stopper.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional View through the stopper taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2, showing the stopper in its semi-open position With respect to the drain sleeve.

FIGURES is a verticalsectional View generally similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the stopper in its closed or locked position with respect to the .drain sleeve.

In the drawings, a stopper embodying the principles of the invention is indicated generally at 10. As may best be seen in FIGURE 4, an outer ilexible sealing portion 11 encircles and is tightly associated with an inner metal core 12. While it is by no means essential to fuse a core piece such as 12 to import rigidity to the sealing parts 11 of the stopper, this does permit the use of more flexible or softer materials for those parts, so that a better seal is formed. Without the use of a rigid core, these tiexible members might not have suicient strength to withstand the Water pressure on their mid-portions and would collapse, breaking the seal.

The plastic portion 11 has an upper extended horizontal seal ap, designated 13, extending outwardly from the core 12. The seal ap 13 is somewhat elongated, being relatively thin by comparison to its width, and outwardly terminates in a feathered marginal edge 14. Viewed from above as in FIGURE 2, it is seen to have a gently rounded square outline defined by four slightly curved sides 15 and more sharply rounded corners 16. While the outline of seal ilaps 13 constitutes no part of the invention, it is advantageous to employ such a configuration because the stopper then 4additionally serves as a scraper as, for example, to move collected food particles over the bottom of the sink into the drain opening. The curve of the sides 15 of the seal ap 13 is such as to generally conform to the shape of the sink in which the stopper is used. In this regard, however, it should be pointed out that if the bowing or curvature is too gradual the corner portions 16 of the ilap may contact more remote portions of the sink bottom surface, beyond the immediate region of the drain opening, and'form an imperfect seal. Consequently it is preferred that the distance from the center .of the stopper to each corner 16 be less than the diameter of the drain flange with which the flaps form the seal. This relationship is more readily visualized by reference to FIGURE 1 where the immediately adjacent portions of the sink bottom are shown at 17, which centrally lead into a downwardly sloping rim 18. Note that the corner portions 16 of the seal flaps d'o not extend onto the sink bottom -17 itself but rather terminate short of the break 2@ between the rim 18 and sink bottom 17.

Downwardly of the seal ap 13 the body 21 of the plastic member outwardly presents a gently tapered shoulder 22 which leads to a more acutely tapered side 23. Disposed around the side 23 at four spaced locations are protruding legs 24, the bottom surfaces of which are substantially coextensive with the bottom surface of the plastic member and the edges 25 of which are substantial continuations of 'the shoulder 22. At the outer lower corner of each leg 24 is presented a detent 26, of rounded section, which stands slightly outwardly beyond the rest of the leg. As will oe explained in due course, it is by means of these detents that a fir-'m locking seal is obtained. Inwardly, the body of this member is of a shape which closely conforms to that of the metal core member as at 27.

The core 12 may most conveniently be spun or pressed from sheet metal as two components, in one of which is formed a knob 28 (which may be of any shape con'- venient to be grasped by the fingers ill order to remove the stopper), the other of which is a bottom plate 30 presenting a shoulder and 'ange indicated at 31 4which closely engage and h'old the plastic member 11 to the knob component. These two components are held together along the interface 32 by any suitable means such as spot welding. As was previously noted, it is the Vvfunction of the core to provide a rigid internal structure for the stopper so as to impart a greater rigidity to the overall structure without which the highly ilexible elastic 'member 'would be unable to form a durable seal.

-An annular drain sleeve 33, having a lliange 34 at its upper end and a depending externally threaded cylindrical body 3S, presents the surfaces with which the stopper forms a seal. As may be seen in FIGURE l the sleeve residesrin an opening provided in the sink bottom, its a'nge 34 residing above but in proximity to the sloping rim 18 of the sink bottom 17.. A `mounting collar 36 attached to the upper portion of the disposal unit 'threads o'nto the ,body 35 of the sleeve and is held to the sink through this collar. The lower end of the sleeve gthus opens directly into lthe lcornminuting chamber 37 of 'the disposal unit 38. A protruding rib 40 is formed on the inside of the drain sleeve, the lower edge of the rib being spaced from the flange 34 at a distance equal 'to the spacing of the top of the detent 26 from the seal flap 17 on the stopper. The internal diameter of the Sleeve Vat the `rib 40 is slightlyA greater than the diametrical distance between the vertical edges 25 of opposite legs on the stopper, but is somewhat less than the distance between opposite detents 26 whereby the detents will not normally 'move past the rib unless compressed.

When the stopper is inserted into 'the drain sleeve to completely shut off the flow of water into the drain, the stopper is placed so that each of the four detents 26 on the legs is arrested as it comes to bear upon the upper surface of the rib 4t) provided on the drain sleeve. Upon the application ot a slightly greater 'downward force, these detents are compressed and pushed away by the rib so that they can -move past the rib 'such that the body of the stopper can move farther down into the sleeve until a point shown in FIGURE l, at which point the seal ilap 17 lies against the flange 34. of the sleeve. Once having moved past the rib, the compression forces on the detents are relieved and the detents resume their normal shape, thereby locking the stopper in the sleeve. When the stopper is connected in this way to the sleeve, the detents are spaced just below the -rib and bear against lits lower 4 edge. It may be seen that because of this locking effect only a direct upward pull on the knob will compress all of the detents and permit the stopper to be removed. Furthermore, as the detents normally bear against the underneath surface of the rib, they exert a slight downward pressure on the stopper tending to cam or pull it `farther into the sleeve and thereby urging the seal tlap into tighter contact with the ilange. A stand of water in the sink above the seal will also exert a downward pressure on the llap which tends to hold it in tight 'conytact with 'the flange, Vso that by theV combination of 'these two forces a very tight seal isobtained. `,A basic difference between the nature of this stoppers locking seal and an ordinary fiictional seal such as is obtained with other Stoppers may, therefore, be noted. A straight frictional seal is subject to progressive loosening; there is no catch to prevent a gradual relaxation of the frictional force holding on Ythe seal. With the present stopper, however, a positive force to compress the detents, in order to move them up past the rib, must be applied, beyond that necessary to overcome friction to translate it along the side of the sleeve.

When, on the 'other hand, one desires to operate the disposal unit, the stopper is placed in the semi-open position which is shown in FiGURE 4. It is pushed into the sleeve only to an intermediate point, at which point the detents rest on the upper surface of the rib, thereby spacing the ilap from the flange. -A ow of water, to aid in comminuting is thus enabled to .pass between the seal flap of the stopper and the flange of the drain. In this position the detents are compressed inwardly by the gentle taper of the -sleeve body 35 above the rib, which frictionally holds the stopper in place. Additionally, vthe relatively `heavy ymetal core adds enough weight to the stopper 'so that, combined with the frictional holding already noted, th`e stopper rests in thel opening suiciently tightly to prevent its accidental dislodg'ing and guards against bits of 'matter being ejected from the drain opening'. From 'this intermediate position the stopper may readily be pushed farther into the sleeve to completely stop the flow of water or removed.

The lknob 28 by which the stopper is grasped in removing it from the drain preferably resides in a central recess 41 formed in the metal core, extending upwardly toa height at which its top surface is roughly on a level with the sink lbottom 17. So coniigurated, the knob does not 'extend appreciably above the otherwise smooth surface of the sink -bottom and therefore cannot injure dishes yas they are moved about in the sink. It is to be noted that the outer marginal rim of the metal core designated 42 in FIGURES 4 and 5 is turned down slightly as shown, the depending lip thus provided cooperating with an annular shoulder 43 formed as an integral part of the plastic portion vof the stopper to lock said portion to the metal core. It is to be noted further, that the rim 42 rests upon the inner marginal area of the seal flap 13, backing up the ap and insuring that the flap is forced into intimate contact with the flange of the drain sleeve when the lstopper is pushed into the drain sleeve to seal it. Thus positioned, the rim also backs up the main body portion of the plastic to the inside of the ilap preventing any tendency for it to roll when 'it is forced down into vthe drain sleeve. p

While the `stopper is illustrated here as seating directly within the drain sleeve itself, -it may 'be utilized in conjunction with a battle unit of the typeA disclosed in copending patent application Serial No. 431,895, iiled May 24, 1954, which issued as Patent No. 2,896,866. In that patent a ring mounted within the upper end of the drain sleeve is provided, this ring serving to anchor in place baille comprising a plurality of fingers which collectively form a shallow inverted cone normally substantially closing the drain opening. The baille does not, however, serve 'as a stopper i'n any sense, being Ydesigned "t' open under the action of water owing into the drain sleeve. The point is that the ring, in such case, carries the rib 40 which cooperates with the detents or protuberances 26 to lock the stopper in sealing relation to the drain sleeve.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A sink stopper for use in conjunction with a drain opening having a waste disposer associated with it and including a drain sleeve of the type having an inwardly extending rib spaced below the upper end thereof, said stopper comprising a rigid central member and a flexible outer member, said rigid member having a central recess, handle means extending upwardly within said recess, said rigid member being circumferentially adapted to receive said flexible member in encircling engagement therewith, said flexible member comprising a peripheral flap, a body smaller in dimension than said drain opening and having an acutely tapered outer surface to throttle flow past it, legs formed integrally with said body and standing outwardly of said outer surface, each leg having a detent protruding from its outer edge which is spaced downwardly from said ap by an amount slightly greater than the amount by which said rib is spaced below the upper end of said sleeve, said Hap and body having a central opening configurated for engagement with said rigid member, whereby when said detents rest on the upper surface of said rib said outer surface is spaced from said sleeve, and whereby when said detents are engaged below said rib said flap seals Said drain opening.

2. A sink stopper for use in conjunction with a drain having a waste disposer associated with it and including a drain sleeve of the type having an inwardly protruding annular rib spaced below its upper end, said stopper comprising a central rigidifying member and an outer sealforming member, said rigidifying member comprising a cup-shaped element, handle means extending upwardly within said cup-shaped element, a circular plate concentrically secured to the bottom of said cup-shaped element, said cup-shaped element and said plate defining means for receiving and supporting said seal-forming member, said seal-forming member being made of a flexible material and comprising a peripheral flap and a body below said flap encircling said rigidifying member, said body having an annular outer surface which tapers inwardly toward the lower end thereof at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the axis of said stopper, legs formed integrally with said body below said ap and standing outwardly of said annular outer surface, each leg having a detent protruding from its outer edge which is spaced downwardly from said ap by an amount slightly greater than the amount by which said rib is spaced below the upper end of said sleeve, whereby when said detents are seated on the upper surface of said rib said annular outer surface throttles flow past it, and whereby when said detents are engaged below said rib said ap seals said drain opening.

3. A sink stopper for use in conjunction with a drain having a waste disposer associated with it and including a drain sleeve of the type having an inwardly protruding annular rib spaced below its upper end, said stopper comprising a central rigidifying member and an outer sealforming member, said rigidifying member comprising a cup-shaped element terminating in an outwardly ilaring rim, handle means extending upwardly within said cupshaped element, a circular plate concentrically secured to the bottom of said cup-shaped element, said cup-shaped element and said plate dening means for receiving and supporting said seal-forming member, said seal-forming member being made of a flexible material and comprising a peripheral ap and a body below said flap encircling said rigidifying member, said body having an annular outer surface which tapers inwardly toward the lower end thereof at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the axis of said stopper, legs formed integrally with said body below said ap and standing outwardly of said annular outer surface, each leg having a detent protruding from its outer edge which is spaced downwardly from said flap by an amount slightly greater than the amount by which said rib is spaced below the upper end of said sleeve, said rim being spaced outwardly of said detents to exert downward force thereon when said stopper is inserted in said drain opening, whereby when said detents are seated on said rib, said annular outer surface throttles ow past it and whereby when said detents are engaged below said rib said ilap seals said drain opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,544,498 Hiertz Mar. 6, 1951 2,709,046 Hyde May 24, 1955 2,847,683 Jordan Aug. 19, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,727 Great Britain May 23, 1905 146,384 Australia May 7, 1952 

